The seven one-two finishes— the highest number since 1988—achieved in the 14 races completed so far have positioned this McLaren (in purely statistical terms, without comparing to the past) only behind the team that once had two drivers who knew how to drive their cars exceptionally well, namely the duo of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
Nevertheless, the 2025 version is a powerhouse that continues to record impressive numbers, and in this respect what was achieved in Hungary is particularly prestigious: Lando Norris’s victory in Budapest allowed Andrea Stella’s team to reach the milestone of 200 wins in Formula 1, a target previously achieved only by Ferrari (currently stopped at 248).
But what are the other key dates to mark in red in the history of the Woking-based team? To find out, we just need to take a journey into the past…
Prost signs the 50th win (Monaco 1986)
That Sunday featured the classic “Monaco race,” where the only notable event was—unfortunately— the crash on lap 67 between Martin Brundle and Patrick Tambay near Mirabeau. Fortunately for the drivers involved, there were no serious consequences, allowing the race to continue.
The winner was Alain Prost ahead of teammate Keke Rosberg, who managed to climb up to second place after starting from ninth on the grid. On the podium with them was another driver who, a couple of seasons later, would cross his destiny with McLaren’s—Ayrton Senna.
Senna scores a home double and delivers the 100th win (Brazil 1993)
The classic Interlagos downpour. In those challenging weather conditions, only one driver could prevail— the one who that year won his home Grand Prix for the second time in his career, despite driving a car inferior to the Williams FW15C (one of the most technically advanced cars ever) of his historic rival Alain Prost.
Even a stop-and-go penalty for overtaking under yellow flags did not stop Ayrton Senna, who then began one of his incredible comebacks: after the Safety Car period—introduced to wait out the storm—McLaren called Senna in before Damon Hill, then race leader, to fit dry tires.
After Williams also made their stop, Ayrton was already dangerously close, and on lap 42 he immediately tried to pass in turn 6; despite a still wet track and being off the ideal line, the Brazilian showed remarkable car control, delaying the braking point and taking his MP4/8 ahead.
It was a triumphant day for McLaren, made even more special by the presence of Juan Manuel Fangio (then the most successful driver ever), who personally handed the trophy on the podium to the winner, who had never hidden his admiration for the multiple world champion from Argentina. A moment still remembered today as one of the most significant in Formula 1 history.
Alonso takes care of the 150th win (Monaco 2007)
It is now clear that the British team likes to celebrate such milestones in style, since the 150th win also came with a one-two finish. The gap of over a minute to the first pursuer—Felipe Massa in a Ferrari—confirmed an uncontested dominance that also marked the 55th victory for a Mercedes engine.
In front of teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso triumphed, and thanks to that victory he returned to the top of the World Championship, tied on points with the British driver, in a season that ultimately saw Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari take the title—still the last drivers’ championship won by the Maranello team nearly 20 years later.
Interestingly, McLaren also ordered Lewis Hamilton not to attack his teammate, a team order at the time forbidden by regulations, leading the FIA to open an investigation that ended with the classic “no further action.”
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